Aug
22
News & Events
Animal Behavior Majors: You might be interested...
- RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY: Chimpanzee Behavior Research Volunteer at Indianapolis Zoo
POSTED: 5/7/2025
Position Title: Chimpanzee Behavior Research Volunteer at Indianapolis Zoo
Dates: May 19 – August 8
Description: Project Description: This is a joint Indianapolis Zoo/Indiana University project to learn about the new community of chimpanzees at Indianapolis Zoo. Volunteers will spend 8-12 hours a week observing and recording the behavior of chimpanzees in the exhibit space, paying attention to factors like where they spend their time, who they spend their time with, and what kinds of behaviors they exhibit in different contexts. The project will involve tracking their behaviors using a tablet or pen/paper, and also may involve filming the chimpanzees using a video camera and tripod.
- RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY: Available Research Assistant Positions: Spring 2025, Summer 2025 & onward
POSTED: 4/3/2025
Available Research Assistant Positions: Spring 2025, Summer 2025 & onward
The Comparative Cognition Lab is looking for ambitious undergrad students to join our team and assist with ongoing research. To learn more about the Comparative Cognition Lab, check out the summary, website, and media links at the end of this announcement.
In our laboratory, undergraduate research associates will learn how to conduct multiple behavioral assessments in rats that examine animal models of memory using olfactory and spatial tasks. This is an entry-level lab position. Prior research experience is encouraged, but not required. As a new research assistant, you will be aiding current experimenters in studies related to animal models of episodic memory (e.g., experiment setup and breakdown, data entry, behavioral testing, animal handling and care). We will train you to do all the technical procedures needed for our current experiments and teach you how to handle the animals.
If you are interested in this research opportunity, comfortable working with rats, and can meet the minimum requirements listed below, then please complete the application form attached and send it to us (application instructions provided within). Applications received by April 16th will be promptly reviewed for immediate participation. Applicants that can start immediately and can work throughout the summer will be prioritized. Applications received after April 16th will be considered depending on lab availability. Interviews and available positions will be offered on a first come first serve competitive basis. We look forward to receiving your application.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS:
- Work in the lab up to ~1-2 hours a day, typically M-F (10 hours a week). Punctuality is essential in our experiments
- Attend weekly lab meetings lead by the PI, grad students, technician, and or other senior lab members.
- Complete application
SUMMARY:
Alzheimer's disease (AD) produces profound impairments in human episodic memory. Therefore, investigating animal models of episodic memory and AD holds enormous potential for understanding disorders of human memory. The Comparative Cognition Lab develops animal models of cognition that are designed to model the types of memory impaired in aging and AD, specifically episodic memory. Going forward in 2025, the lab will use cutting-edge behavioral assessments to continue this mission and innovate novel animal models of episodic memory.
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) can cause cognitive impairments. Ongoing studies focus on the effect of sport related mTBI on memory and learning. Studies include behavioral training using humanlike memory task for rodents and measuring structural changes in the hippocampus of rodents.
COMPARATIVE COGNITION LAB:
- Lab Website | https://compcogn.sitehost.iu.edu/
- People | https://compcogn.sitehost.iu.edu/people.html
- Select Publications | https://compcogn.sitehost.iu.edu/publications.html
NEWS & MEDIA COVERAGE:
- NPR | Rats That Reminisce May Lead To Better Tests For Alzheimer's Drugs
- Newsweek | Animal Memory Discovery Could Lead to New Alzheimer's Treatments
- Indy Star | Here's how memory in animals may improve treatments for Alzheimer's
- Science Daily | Neuroscientists find first evidence animals can mentally replay past ...
Cassandra Sheridan, B.S.
Dual Doctoral Student
Program in Neuroscience | Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences
Indiana University – Bloomington- FIELD COURSE: Asian Elephants in Context: Animal Behavior and Conservation in Thailand
POSTED: 12/16/2024
Field Course: Asian Elephants in Context: Animal Behavior and Conservation in Thailand
I wanted to share information about an exciting field course opportunity in Thailand focused on Asian elephant behavior and community-driven conservation. The course is being offered through PAN Works and Mahouts Elephant Foundation in Summer 2025, with both four-week and two-week options available.
Key highlights:
- Students work directly with rewilded Asian elephants in their natural habitat
- Hands-on experience with behavioral observation methods and field research
- Immersion in a Karen indigenous community
- Led by Dr. Liv Baker, Sarah Lawrence College and the MEF research team
- Options for university credit through students' home institutions
The four-week course runs June 15 - July 11, 2025, with two-week sessions also available (June 15-28 or June 29-July 11). The program is designed for university students, graduate students, and professionals interested in conservation biology, animal welfare and wellbeing, veterinary biology, and related fields.
This is a unique opportunity for students to:
- Learn field research methods in animal behavior
- Study community-driven conservation approaches
- Gain experience in wildlife tracking and observation
- Participate in an ongoing research project with Asian elephants
Would you please share this opportunity with interested students and colleagues? More information can be found at www.mahouts.org/fieldcourse. Students can also contact Sarah Blaine (sarah@mahouts.org) for general inquiries or Dr. Liv Baker (lbaker@panworks.io) for curriculum questions. Attached are our flyer and brochure as well.
- FIELD COURSE: DANTA Tropical Biology and Conservation Field Course in Costa Rica
We are pleased to announce our 2025 field courses in tropical biology. Our courses are intended for undergraduates or early graduate level students who have a keen interest in tropical ecosystems and conservation but have little or no experience of working in a tropical environment. Participants may enroll on either a credit or non-credit basis.
As much of our advertising is done by word-of-mouth, we encourage you to spread the word by forwarding this information to students or friends who may be interested in our programs.
For more information, please visit our website at www.danta.info and/or email conservation@danta.email. For an alumni perspective on our programs, please see our blog DANTAisms - http://dantablog.wordpress.com/ [dantablog.wordpress.com].
Methods in Primate Behavior and Conservation:
Date: June 10-25, 2025
Program fee: $2900
Application deadline: May 1, 2025
Wildlife Conservation and Sustainability:
Date: July 1-16, 2025
Program Fee: $2900
Application deadline: June 1, 2025
Field Excursion:All courses include a visit to a wildlife rehabilitation center, sustainable chocolate plantation and dolphin and snorkeling trip of the Golfo Dulce. We will stay overnight on the Boruca Indigenous Reserve where we will learn about the community and their traditional lifeways, and help with needed projects. Every effort is made to implement eco-friendly and socially responsible practices into our day-to-day operations, field courses and overall mission.
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DANTA: Association for Conservation of the Tropics
438 Norway Avenue
Huntington, WV 25705 USA
conservation@danta.email
740-274-2733
www.danta.info- STUDENT INTEREST MEMBERSHIP: Association of Zoos and Aquariums Student membership call out
Hi Dr. Wellman,
My name is Jada Ryan, and I am reaching out on behalf of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), a non-profit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation.
We at AZA are looking to establish a connection with Indiana University’s Animal Behavior program. As an organization, we recognize that the strength of the zoo and aquarium industry is best determined by the knowledge, integrity, and commitment of its members. As such, one of our goals is to enhance the zoo industry by acquiring and retaining the brightest minds.
We recently developed a brochure that outlines the benefits of AZA Student Membership while also providing an overview of the complimentary resources available to students on our website. Of particular significance is the AZA Career Center, a web page wherein students have access to a comprehensive selection of job/internship listings.
Best,
Jada Ryan
Program Assistant, Member Services
Association of Zoos & Aquariums
8403 Colesville Road, Suite 710
Silver Spring, MD 20910-3314
(P) (301) 244-3340
(E) jryan@aza.org- INTERNSHIP: Mad 4 My Dog internships
Mad 4 My Dog is looking for interns for the fall and spring semesters. We offer dog training, bathing, daycare, retail sales, & in-home pet sitting. Our interns help with training classes and daycare primarily, as well as facility cleanup and class prep. You will get to experience a ton of animal behavior principles implemented in a practical way with clients and their dogs. Please email a resume to Madalyn at mad4mydog@gmail.com.
Check back regularly for new updates
October Science Fest 2024
During October the Program in Animal Behavior participated in Indiana University's annual Science Fest with 3 activities: "The Bird Migration Game", "Build a Neuron" and "Animal Behavior Trivia".
Animal Behavior Highlights
Animal Behavior Adjunct Faculty in the News: Dr. Laura Perry
The paper "Changing Human Behavior to Conserve Biodiversity," published in Annual Review of Environment and Resources, makes a compelling case: human behavior is at the heart of the global biodiversity crisis. Nearly every threat to the natural world—from pollution and climate change to deforestation and the illegal wildlife trade—is fueled by human activity. The authors argue that addressing this crisis requires influencing how people act, from consumers and policymakers to businesses and investors. The review explores various strategies to spark this change, from educational campaigns to social marketing and even regulatory policies. However, the authors point out a critical gap: while many interventions exist, few have been scaled up or rigorously evaluated for their real-world impact. They call for more ambitious, evidence-based efforts that prioritize the most harmful behaviors and take into account social inequality. Ultimately, the paper highlights the urgent need for large-scale, science-backed interventions to turn the tide on biodiversity loss before it's too late.
See article
Animal Behavior Faculty in the News: Dr. Erica Cartmill
New CISAB faculty member Erica Cartmill (Professor, Animal Behavior, Anthropology, and Cognitive Science) studies the evolution of language and social cognition, gesture, primate communication, and parent-infant interaction. In her latest paper, “Just Kidding: The Evolutionary Roots of Playful Teasing”, she and coauthors Johanna Eckert and Sasha L. Winkler suggest that playful teasing, a key foundation of social interaction in humans, may be phylogenetically old: great apes demonstrate behaviors that are similar to the playful teasing described in human infants, including offer and withdrawal, provocative noncompliance, and disrupting others’ activities. They argue that studying playful teasing in nonhumans may shed light on the evolution of social cognition. Listen to Dr. Cartmill discuss her work on NPR.
Listen here
IU Biology and Animal Behavior researchers find unusual heat resilience in a Bloomington bird
Tree swallows use behavioral and physiological mechanisms to handle rising temperatures, and their story is an optimistic example of how some species successfully respond to climate change, at least for now.
It’s a difficult time to study birds. Their numbers are down, their habitat is changing, and their prey are disappearing as heat waves grow more common and more intense. Yet, Kim Rosvall and Mary Woodruff of the Department of Biology within the College of Arts and Sciences at Indiana University Bloomington have identified a bird that seems to be handling some of these challenges surprisingly well. Their multi-year studies of the tree swallow demonstrate that these birds can employ behavioral and physiological mechanisms to handle the heat.
See articleFellowship, Scholarship, + Award Deadlines
- ABEH Undergraduate Summer Study Scholarships Deadline April 10th of each year
The Program in Animal Behavior awards two summer study scholarships each year to aid outstanding Animal Behavior majors at IU Bloomington with the costs of summer field courses, internships, or research experiences in fields relevant to the study of animal behavior. These awards help to defray costs of travel and fees for these experiences. Deadline is April 10th of each year.
- Alex Black Memorial Scholarship Deadline April 10th each year
Alex Black was an outstanding student who received her B.S. degree in Animal Behavior in 2018. She was committed to social justice, strongly advocating for mental health and domestic violence awareness. She was also passionate about her work with animals, spending hundreds of hours on internships both during her undergraduate career and after graduation. The Alex Black Memorial Scholarship was established by Alex’s family to honor Alex’s memory and helps to support students in the Animal Behavior program while they complete summer internships.
Two scholarships are awarded per year, and all students pursuing a B.S. degree in Animal Behavior are eligible to apply. Deadline is April 10th of each year.- Goodson Prize for the Art in Science Submission deadline is in March
Goodson Prize for Art in Science
Dr. Jim Goodson was a vibrant member of the CISAB community. In addition to being a consummate neuroscientist and critical thinker, Jim was also extraordinarily gifted at capturing the beauty of his science via images, of both his study subjects and his histological material. The Goodson Prize for Art in Science recognizes outstanding research images from CISAB members that are not just scientifically meaningful but are also beautiful. Winning images are showcased both in the CISAB house and on our website.
- Faculty Nominations for Excellence in Thesis Research in Animal Behavior
To recognize some of our many outstanding Animal Behavior majors, CISAB Undergraduate Curriculum Committee has established a new award for Excellence in Thesis Research in Animal Behavior.
- CISAB Graduate Fellowship applications deadline February 10, 2025
CISAB Graduate Scholars are outstanding IU graduate students who exemplify an integrative approach to the study of animal behavior through their research, teaching and other professional activities. Awards range from summer support up to 10 months of stipend support. To apply for CISAB funding, applicants must be CISAB members.
All materials (including letters from references) must be submitted by February 10th of each year by 4 pm Eastern.
- CTRD NIH Pre-doctoral Trainees Fellowship deadline January 27, 2025
CTRD NIH Pre-doctoral Trainees are outstanding IU graduate students whose integrative research interests focus on behavior and physiology in humans and other animals and will address key questions in three related themes: (1) Developmental contributions to reproductive behavior; (2) Origins and expression of differences among the sexes; and (3) Interactions between sex, health, and disease. Awards are for 12 months of stipend support and include a small allowance for research expenses and travel. CTRD Trainees MUST be citizens, non-citizen nationals or permanent residents of the US.
All materials (including letters from references) must be submitted by January 27, 2025 by 4 pm Eastern.- Faculty Nominations for the Rowland Mentoring Award deadline in February
CISAB founding member William J. Rowland was devoted to the study of animal behavior, and a strong advocate for mentoring and training undergraduates in research, particularly undergraduates who were in one way or another disadvantaged in their opportunities to get research experience. The Bill Rowland Mentoring Award was established in Bill’s memory to recognize graduate students who have served as outstanding research mentors to undergraduates. Recommendations are due in February each year.
- Faculty Nominations for the Hanna Kolodziejski Fellowship deadline in February
Established in memory of Hanna Kolodziejski, a remarkable graduate student in CISAB and the Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior program in Biology, this fellowship is an annual award for a graduate student who, like Hanna, shows academic talent in both research and teaching, and who demonstrates a commitment to the community through service or outreach programs. The fellowship is open to all CISAB and Biology graduate students, with a preference given to members of CISAB and Evolution, Ecology & Behavior (EEB) students. Recommendations are due in February each year.
Mark your calendars for the 2025 Animal Behavior Conference
The 2025 Animal Behavior Conference is scheduled for March 28th and 29th, 2025.
The College of Arts